Live from CPAC: Romney speaks…”Frankly in this time of war, I cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror…I feel I need to stand aside”
Video here. And N.Z. Bear has pics/vid from the foot of the podium.
Talked to a couple of Romney staffers. Plans are still up in the air over whether to attend the Lincoln Day Dinner event in Baltimore tonight, which McCain is scheduled to attend.
***
12:43pm Eastern. I’m starting a new thread for Romney’s speech…awaiting his official announcement of the suspension of his campaign. And possible endorsement today of John McCain.
Laura Ingraham continues to warm up the crowd. “It’s not enough to say you’re a footsoldier for Reagan. The question is: “What have you done for conservatism lately?”
(Applause)
LI introduction: “Mitt Romney is the conservative’s conservative. Above all, he is a class act.”
Romney enters. Loud applause, standing ovation. Tanks talk radio.
I love being introduced as the conservative’s conservative.
I look forward to joining you many, many more times in the future…
…To all of you, thank you here for caring enough about america to show up to speak up to stand up for conservative principles…
Conservative principles are needed now more than ever…face a new generation of challenges…unless america changes course we could become the france of the 21st century…
He’s very energetic.
“Culture makes all the difference…The threat to our culture comes from within. welfare state. dependency is culture killing. we’ve got to fight it like the poison that it is. (Applause.)”
Talks about fatherless children.
It’s time for the people of America to fortify marriage by constitutional amendment so liberal judges cannot attack it.
(Applause.)
Europe is facing a demographic disaster…Stand up for family values and morality and culture. Conservatives here and across the country will always be honored to stand on and for principle.
We face economic competition unlike any we’ve known before…China and Asia…if we don’t change, they will pass us by as world superpowers.
Invest in nuclear energy, clean coal, etc. Cheers and applause. Simply put, America must never be held hostage by the likes of Putin, Chavez, and Ahmadenjiad.
(Standing ovation.)
Segues to government spending. Let’s not just focus on pork. Any plan for the future must include entitlement reform. We have to solve it, not just acknowledge it.
(Applause.)
Government workers make more than private sector employees. Lower taxes. take a weed whacker. stand up to the increasingly voracious appetites of the unions in our government.
(Applause)
And finally…the threat of radical violent jihad…they hate everything we believe about freedom, just as we hate everything they believe about radical jihad…
But there’s an important difference from 1976. Today we are a nation at war.
I disagree with sen mccain on a number of issues…(audience boos) but i agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be succesful in iraq…
And i agree with him on eliminating al qaeda…
If i fight on in my campaign all the way to the convention, i want you to know that i forestall the launch of a national campaign.
Crowd: “NOOOOO!”
Frankly in this time of a war, I cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror.
This isn’t an easy decision. I hate to lose.
…Not just about me…i entered this race because i love america. i feel i have to now stand aside.
We cannot allow the next president of the United States to retreat in the face of evil extremism.
Romney makes a rousing exit.
Afterward, a CPAC official moved on to the next session and mentioned John McCain’s appearance this afternoon.
The mere mention of his name provoked a fresh round of boos.
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- The Romney CPAC Speech (Will He End the Campaign Here?) : The Sundries Shack
- The Daily Conservative
- Romney SuspENDS Campaign · A Soft Answer
- Right Voices » Blog Archive » It Looks Like Mitt Romney Will End His Campaign
- Right Voices » Blog Archive » It Looks Like Mitt Romney Will End His Campaign
- Webloggin - Blog Archive » Mitt Romney Drops Out of Race
- Reverse_Vampyr
- Stop The ACLU
- Church and State
- Neocon News » Romney to drop out? Yep, Romney’s out. Brilliant move given his options. Video added.
- The Dan Lee Report » Blog Archive » Fellow Christians, are you satisfied that you got McCain instead of a Mormon? Wrong Shepard you dopes!
- Oblogatory Anecdotes - Mormons Need Not Apply
- GraniteGrok
- AMERICAN NONSENSE » Mitt Romney Drops Out
- Romney suspends campaign « HoodaThunk?
- The TIW Blog » Blog Archive » I HEREBY DECLARE MYSELF A SUICIDE VOTER
- A NEWT ONE
- Lump on a Blog » Blog Archive » And Then There Were Two
- Romney: Brokered or Third Party? | The Anchoress
- Hot Air » Blog Archive » Day One: CPAC from the scene
- Open Hatch » Blog Archive » Bravo, Romney
- PoliBlog ™: A Rough Draft of my Thoughts » Concurring with Kerr
- BipolarNation.com » 20 Reasons Not to like McCain
- Setting The Record Straight On The McCain-GOP Establishment Tag-Team! « nuke gingrich
- BipolarNation.com » Will it be Romney?
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Categories: 2008 campaign, John McCain, Mitt Romney
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Malkin / Ingraham (and Coulter for AG) in 2012
Romney, you had better not.
IF he does throw his support to McCain, he will be following the Reagan example.
I have the option that a presidential candidate may not…I will NEVER support McCain with my vote.
That was a fantastic intro from Ingraham. And what a response from the crowd.
If Romney backs McCain, he’s shot himself in the foot.
OMG, there goes the country. More sorry than I can say on this news.
L
Okay. That’s it!
I’m finished with the GOP. Romney bashes McCain as being “liberal”. Romney accuses Huckabee of trying to help McCain and wanting the VP spot. Now, Romney is going to quit and support McCain?!
I pi$$ed away a vote on Tuesday for Romney! I would have been better off to have left that spot empty this time around too.
I’m ready for a third party candidate. Does anyone out there look like a contender for a third party ticket?
unless, mcpain offers him the VP, and then mcpain is unable to complete his term, we would have romney.
the only way i might change my mind about a mcpain vote.
It is my opinion that conservatives only started backing Romney after the other candidates left the race. Maybe its time to support Ron Paul ;=)
Personally I’d rather he endore no one, but this sounds like an effort to keep himself in the good graces of the Republican party for a future run at the White House.
Well Newt Gingrich just earned two votes in November. (Mine and my wife’s)
Another domino drops.
Everybody ready? Hold on tight, because the next 4 years are going to be a BUMPY ride.
Discouraging but not surprising -
Goodness! All the teeth grinding and hand wringing people! We survived Slick Willie, Joslyn Elders and Robert Reich so everyone please stop yur’ moaning!
Looks like I’ll be a suicide voter until 2012.
Being in Texas I don’t really get a vote being that every conservative has dropped out. I feel disenfranchised
Remember, people…
Remember that Reagan did what was best for the party.
He swallowed his own interests, and FOUGHT for the party’s choice, regardless of how flawed he thought they were.
IF Romney does the same thing, he is only following the Reagan example.
I hope he doesn’t stop there, though…
Call me cynical, but I view even Slick Willie as more moderate than either HRC or McCain.
Frosty says it best
http://www.newswithviews.com/Wooldridge/frosty335.htm
Though I agree a McCain-Romney ticket makes a lot of sense. Potentially a 16 year Romney in the WH like GHW Bush was for 12 years.
Listening to Romney on my pc at work – great speech. Thunderous applause.
He’s just supporting McShame because the party muckety-mucks want him to. His support says nothing of him on a personal conviction level.
It’s kind of like the Hildebeast’s support for Kerry in 2004. Only difference is she didn’t actively support Kerry because of differing personal conviction, but because of personal ambition for power.
I’ve thought long and hard on how I could support McAmnesty, and I decided the only way is for him to pledge and sign a pledge, notorized and all legal that he will:
Renounce Amnesty
Renounce Global Warming
Renounce the Gang of 14
Renounce McCain-Feingold
Renounce the Terrorist Bill of Rights
Pledge to keep Gitmo open
Pledge to preserve and increase the Bush tax cuts
Pledge to secure the borders, enforce the law and deport via attrition.
Pledge to only serve one term
With the condition that if any of these are breached he will resign immediately.
That is the only way I will support him.
How about doing what is best for the country instead? How happy I am to be an independant, not having a party telling me what to do or how to think.
We have sooo screwed up electing McCain. I keep hoping for a “My Cousin Vinny” movie moment line “I want him” – embracing Romney and rejecting McCain. But, this is not the movies.
Michelle called it months ago:
No balls.
I pray BO wins in a landslide and the (R)’s in DC get the friggin message.
Game over man, game over.
Well, I guess I will, after all, change registration.
Mister P…
Try running for national office as an Independant…
I once was enamored with the idea of a third…or fourth…party.
There are some real sound reasons why that will likely not happen in my life.
With Mcpain being so old (as Chuck Norris pointed out) and given the amount of aging that presidents go through during a stint in the Oval Office, it’s possible that Mcpain may not want to or be able to go a second term. And Mitt would be in a position to move up.
Then again, his mom is like 150 or something and she wants me to plug my nose and vote.
Good thing I have until November to think about it.
say it ain’t so!
Maables, I’m with you in Texas. This is just another reason why all the primary voting should be on the same day. It’s not right that so many won’t have a chance to decide who’s going to run on the Republican ticket.
I’m wondering if there’s a McCain/Romney ticket afoot? Dangling that carrot may sway some conservatives McCain’s way.
Listen to him. I love Mitt. You can see it’s not about him, it’s about the ideas he believes in. And what great ideas. Clear, powerful, conservative ideas.
What will I do wih all these “Condi 2008″ t-shirts??????
It is over.
Hand over our country to the enemies.
I will not vote for another candidate for president, I will keep MY money for MY family, I will never give in to the New Evil Empire of the former US of A.
McCain doesn’t stand a chance in November…
But hey…let’s bomb Iran and spread some more
cheerfear around the world! Then the sheeple will want a hero like McCain elected as Commander and Chief Warmongerer to save their hides!Fed Up
As an exasperated Paul Harvey often says: “EEeeeeeeeeeeee…..”
Guess we need to relentlessly, and with out mercy, absolutely POUND McCain’s HQ with demands for his “change of direction” as Rogue has proposed, if that’s possible to affect.
So now our choices for president are between an empty suit, an overstuffed pantsuit, and the straight-jacket express?
That’s all folks. Looks like it may be time to pull a “John Galt”. (Hint – Atlas Shrugged)
Wish we were gearing up for four years of Mitt, not four years of a blowhard (McCain or Hillary, insert whomever). I really wish I had been able to vote for Mitt.
Those critical of Romneys decision should listen to his speech. Great speech – good reasoning.
#32
Yep…I agree with you. I really wanted to vote for Fred and then decided on Mitt.. now I don’t think I can vote for McCain.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not about to let Barack or Hillary walk to the office and snatch victory from Iraq just when we’re on the verge of winning.
If we’re going to be a sourpusses and not vote for McCain, and let the dems win, then we should have pulled the troops out years ago and save hundres/thousands of lives.
The vote in November is more than about McCain vs. the dem. It’s about winning vs. losing the war on terror. I don’t particularly like McCain, but we can win this war with his leadership and we won’t with dem leadership.
My principles disagree with McCains’, and I hate sacrificing them to vote for him. But keeping this country safe from our enemies will always be my number one priority. So if that means holding my nose and voting for McCain, then so be it . I love this country too much and support the troops too much, to let HRC or BHO flush it all away to win popularity points.
I bet RUSH is having convulsions.
You all seem like you could use a chuckle. I hope this works.
Well people. This is what you get to choose from.
Hillary
or
McCain
Wow.
Still not voting for McCain. Consider me officially the new RINO also.
Well I’m glad I voted Tuesday. At least I got to vote for pres this year. McAmnesty and Chucklbee? This is what the Republican Party has come to?
Blah. It didn’t. I’ll look for a current link.
The Super Tuesday results were the talk of our area yesterday. Basic consensus of everyone we interacted with “we are screwed.” We live in a very conservative state and our country is extremely conservative and pro-military. Only makes it worse to see Romney is stepping down now we are truly screwed.
After reading his whole speech, I really hope that McCain’s speech is met with silence. People stand and cheer for Mitt and McCain gets nothing. That would be quite a slap in the face to him.
I’ll be voting in the senate races on down. There’s nothing more I can do about the top.
Holy guacamole!
There is only one reason I can think of that would get me to “hold my nose” and vote for McCain in November, and that would be the Supreme Court. The Court has done more damage to this country than any president, IMO. A Kennedy/O’Connor type justice that McCain would appoint would still be better than another Ginsburg.
So he is making a great spech. We were not backing him to hear a great bow-out speach. What he says now matters not one iotta. So, he has ideals. RUN WITH THEM OR SHUT UP.
No balls
Har! I love reading these posts — you right wingers had control of the white house AND congress for six years. You had two positive things to show for it (the deficit and medicare expansion don’t count as positives, to you or us): the Iraq War and progress on the Supreme Court. Now you’re going to retreat from Iraq and give up on reversing Roe v. Wade when you were a single vote away, even though you have a candidate who would support you on both.
Stay ideologically pure comrades!
As Thomas Paine once said, “I smell a rat!” Too long yet to the convention. And, strange things have happened at conventions before.
Romney’s out.
So, this leaves us with a man who does not have enough backbone to cast a vote, for a stimulus package or against it.
I can’t wait to see how soon the MSM who has been endorsing, praising, ect.. John McCain, and blowing off Romney as un-electable – will start their “how could the Republicans let such a solid, successful, economic whiz like Romney not get their nomination” – what are they thinking??
The Dem’s just won the election!
McCain can’t be either HRC or Obama:
1) Televised debates will be another “Kennedy v. Nixon” with McCain looking old and sick compared to either Dem;
2) The Dems will pressure McCain until his legendary temper shows, providing a “Dean Moment”;
3) A growing, but significant, portion of the Republican party will never vote for McCain simply because he continues to not only openly go against their core beliefs, but calls the names and admonishes them at the same time (”Calm Down” being the latest and not the last);
4) When presented with a Dem and Dem, the voters always pick the authentic Dem.
God help us.
Second attempt. Check out the pic.
Conservatives didn’t support Romney whole heartedly, and certainly not financially. Why should the man blow his entire fortune if southern conservatives pick Huckabee first and McCain second? Huckabee! Come on now. A man that’s a populist, not a conservative. Romney’s a realist. He’s trying to maintain some relationship to the party leaders so he can live to fight another day. Don’t let me hear one word about him abandoning the conservative cause. It has abandoned him.
Since the other thread is closed…
Instead of Booing or attempting stony silence, why not turn our backs on McCain when he takes the podium?
Gerry Studds did this when he was being censured in the House for his gay-sex-with-a-17-year-old-page deal.
G.W.O.T.
It’s NOT a bumpersticker…
I don’t really see McCain choosing Romney to be his VP. I’d have an easier time believing that he’d offer it to Lieberman first.
But if he did choose Romney for the ticket, I just might have to think about my vote.
Funny Barry, when you used HRC for hillary, I initially mistook it for “HER ROYAL CRAPPINESS”(as “crappiness” is a less lewd word than the original “c” word I envisioned)
As far as hand-wringing goes, I have two kids, on teen and one preteen, and they’re going to be forced to grow up real freaking fast in the next four years. I hope to God they go by fast.
TEEEEEEEJ
Does anyone have a link for the text of Romney’s speech? My video feed spent more time trying to connect than actually playing.
Amen to that Ron.
The “Conservatives’ Conservative”????
Give me a break…he was pro-abortion, pro gay rights, raised taxes, lined up with Ted Kennedy….and we’re supposed to forget all that??
Sorry, but I am HAPPY that this fake Conservative is out of the race.
Sheesh.
McCain – Romney is unlikely. McCain needs southern pull, as evidenced on Super Tuesday – and Romney ain’t it.
McCain – Huckabee is more likely – but don’t discount a different southern republican who can still pull in the voters, but is even more in line with McCain’s views.
He doesn’t seem like someone who’d care to have a ‘dissenter’ as his VP.
There are a lot of posters who are pledging to either hold their nose, switch parties, find a 3rd party, not vote, etc… I, myself, have no idea what I’m going to do – and I may not know until the day I step into the voting booth.
The idea of a RINO as president is not the most appealing prospect… but with Hillary pledging to force payroll deductions on people to pay for healthcare, and Obama’s pledge to pull our troops out of Iraq before that country is able to fend for itself…. those alternatives are TRULY frightening, compared to only mildly the mildly fearful tremors I get regarding McCain.
When Texas gets to vote, I will make my mark for Romney, anyhow.
This isn’t the end, folks. This nation is stronger than some seem to think, and we have a job of work to do to minimize the damage over the next four years.
The sun will come up in the morning, and we’ll have work to do, kids to teach, and life to live.
I bet that the Huckster drops out in the
near future. I believe that the RNC’s stratagy is to back one candidate (even if it is McShame). They see that the war between Billary & Obambi won’t have an outcome until the convention. While the Dems are fighting and divided over who will be their representative in the fall, The republican side can build their war chest.
As for Mitt, there was no sense in spending millions more of his own money when the deck was stacked against him.
*Cries.*
StandardD –
A Romney VP pick would be interesting. I agree though – It’ll never happen. Lieberman or Huck maybe.
To pull enough votes to McCain he’d need a Colin Powell or other highly capable, competent, and historic running mate. Maybe Mrs. Morales from the FTC?
Romney is a strong leader who believes in conservatism. He would have been a great President.
Today is a sad day for America.
Standard,
My bet is on Rudy as his VP. The assimilation will be complete then.
Dem: liberal/liberal
Repub: liberal/liberal
Sure bitboy, McCain will close Gitmo (while leaving border patrol agents in jail). There is nothing to show McCain will be tough on the GWOT. He will pander to the left and we will lose not only the war but Justices as well. But then again, you are not well informed are you? Go back to your bridge now.
I think it would be wonderful if Romney could actually pull out at least one more state even after he dropped out. I know it won’t happen, but I think it would be a big kick in the pants to McCain.
Time for a third party that represents the conservatives…Republicans do not…wonder how many pesos they have collected over the last three years from former supporters???? I’m reADY TO JOIN A THIRD party …GRASSROOTS HERE WE COME!!
Will NEVER Vote for McVain…waterboard me if you must and I still won’t vote for that nasty ,power hungry cretin!!!
Graham? Martinez? Lott? Who’s he gonna find like him that will influence the conservative base? I don’t see one there that appeals to me and I am at a loss for anyone else, off the top of my head.
I think the GOP is toast this election year. Call me cynical.
Listen to Romney!
He has it exactly right. We despise and loathe McCain, but he will not surrender in the war on terror. Any democrat will!
If not for yourself, then vote for McCain on behalf of our brave soldiers so their efforts will not have been in vain as they surely will have been if a democrat is elected president.
I thought I felt down when I watched my Patriots fall flat on their face on Sunday.
This feels worse.
Show of hands – how many thought Ron Paul would outlast Romney?
Paul will tell you the same thing. The Republicans and Democrats (with McCain’s help) have stacked the deck against anyone who is not one of them. I think many conservatives blew it by not voting for Ross Perot when they had a chance to make headway against the monopoly.
So what do we have now. We have Tweedledee party and Tweedledum party and one has his hand im your left pocket while the other in your right pocket.
Funny I remember this same debate in the ’60s. I guess not much has changed
I think Romney’s a class act. He’s won my vote for any future election he’s in.
…who’s Ron Paul…????
What a great speech! It was like watching Reagan 25 years ago. The MSM gave out generous quantities of the Liberals rhetoric, but America has been unable to see the Romney we saw today. It is indeed a sad day for America. We’ve been deprived of the last conservative in the race.
The GOP is toast this election year????
Sorry, the GOP has been “toast” since at least 2004.
After this year’s DISASTER, the GOP will be completely vaporized.
Good thing too, ‘cuz the GOP is no less than a wing of the Democrat party.
I remember the same thing being said by Richard Nixon and communism. Then a young Buchanon came up with the phrase “Peace with Honor”. And Nixon abandoned Viet Nam. Politicians can spin on a dime.
Agreed. I believe a popular phrase on this site is “Suck It Up.” It might be time for some people to take their own advice.
I don’t understand Romney’s logic about dropping out. He seems to be saying he is dropping out because he doesn’t want to hand the USA over to terrorists.
What in the world does that mean????????
He says McCain agrees with him on the War on Terror. If they both have the same positions, where is the contradiction???
Also- he is “suspending the campaign”. Does that mean he may step back in if McCain doesn’t offer him the VP spot??
Maybe there is more back door dealing to be done. Maybe this was the first step in the negotiating process.
I am heartbroken.
What an honorable man.
Thank you Governor Romney.
I wonder if something is going on. First Thompson, then Guiliani, followed shortly thereafter by Romney. You would think everyone is running against a strong incumbent president. It’s too early. We have some months yet before the convention. Something is brewing. But, then, in politics, I’m normally suspicious. I need to correct post 69. It was Patrick Henry.